Thermal gap control

ABSTRACT

A heat dissipating element (e.g., a heat sink) is held in an initial position closer to a heat generating structure (e.g., a microprocessor) and in a subsequent position farther from the microprocessor. A thermal interface material (e.g., a thermal grease) spans the gap, but is not held under compression, between the heat sink and the microprocessor.

BACKGROUND

[0001] To prevent microprocessors and other heat generating electronic components from overheating, excess heat is sometimes conducted to a heat sink where it is dissipated. The heat sink may be mounted above the microprocessor with a thermally conductive elastomer held in a thermal gap between the heat sink and the microprocessor. The elastomer is held in compression between the heat sink and the microprocessor to provide a good thermal conduction path that will last for a long period.

[0002] In such an approach, the distance between the upper surface of the printed circuit board and the upper surface of the microprocessor package may vary from unit-to-unit because of manufacturing tolerances. The spring device provides enough free play to accommodate such changes.

SUMMARY

[0003] In implementations of the invention, a heat dissipating element (e.g., a heat sink) is held in an initial position closer to a heat generating structure (e.g., a microprocessor) and in a subsequent position farther from the heat generating structure. A thermal interface material (e.g., a thermal grease) spans the gap, but is not held under compression, between the heat sink and the microprocessor.

[0004] Because no compression is applied to the thermal interface material, soft materials that have little or no strength to resist compressive forces may be used as the thermal interface. The thermally conductive path remains good over a long period. Variations in the thermal gap are accommodated without imposing a compressive force on the thermal interface material. Tight control over the size of the thermal gap is maintained.

[0005] Other advantages and features will become apparent from the following description and from the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006]FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a mounted microprocessor in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

[0007]FIGS. 2 and 3 are cross-sectional schematic side views in more detail, showing two stages in manufacturing.

[0008]FIG. 4 is a flow chart.

DESCRIPTION

[0009] As seen in FIG. 1, a microprocessor 10 (or other heat generating device) is held in a socket 12 that is mounted on a printed circuit board 14 (e.g., a computer circuit board such as a motherboard) using a ball grid array 16. A metal block or plate forming a heat dissipating element (e.g., a heat sink 18) is attached to the board 14 using supports 27, 29 and is held in a position that defines a thermal gap 20 between the bottom surface 22 of the heat sink and the top surface 24 of the microprocessor 10. (Although only two supports are shown in the figure, there are actually three or more supports arranged in a triangle or a rectangle.) A thermal grease, gel, or other soft, highly thermally conductive material 26 spans the gap 20 and defines a heat conducting path 28 from the microprocessor to the heat sink. The grease is not held under compression so it remains in place and provides a good thermal path 28 over a long period without begin squeezed from the gap.

[0010] The height 30 from the top surface 31 of the board to the top surface 24 of the microprocessor varies from unit to unit because of manufacturing variations. It is desirable for the gaps 20 in different units to be of the same height despite of the differences in the heights 30, in order to provide a consistent adequate thermal path.

[0011] As seen in FIG. 2, the gap 20 is kept at a desired fixed height by an arrangement in which the four supports (pins in this case) 27, 29 are securely attached to the heat sink at their upper ends, pass through four corresponding holes 44, 46 in the printed circuit board, and are securely attached to the board by locking clips 42, 44 held on the lower surface of the board. High-stiffness coiled spacer springs 52, 54 surround the pins.

[0012] Referring to FIG. 3 and to the flow chart of FIG. 4, during manufacturing, after the microprocessor has been inserted into the mounted socket, a quantity of the thermally conductive material 26 is placed (70) on the top surface of the microprocessor or on the bottom surface of the heat sink. The heat sink is then attached (72) by lowering it over the microprocessor and the pins are inserted through the holes and into the locking clips. The heat sink is pushed down (forcing the pins further into the locking clips) until the bottom surface of the heat sink contacts the top surface. The thermal grease is squeezed from the gap as indicated by arrows 50 but remains temporarily in the vicinity of the perimeter of the gap.

[0013] Next, referring again to FIG. 2, when the downward force on the heat sink is released, the springs force the heat sink upward. The lower ends of the pins are grabbed by the sharp edges of the holes in the locking clips and, as the heat sink moves upward (74), the pins pull up on the locking clips, distorting them from their original conical shapes to flat shapes that define jammed positions. The vertical distance traveled from the lowest position of the heat sink to the position at which the clips are jammed is relatively constant from unit to unit and defines the gap. As the heat sink is pushed upward, the thermal grease is drawn back (76) into the gap by viscous forces and suction as indicated by arrows 60, to fill the gap and provide the desired thermal path. In this final position, no compressive force is applied to thermal grease, which therefore is able to remain in place and provide a good thermal path over a long period of time.

[0014] In particular implementations, the microprocessor could be a Pentium® II processor or Pentium® III processor or other microprocessor, for example, of a kind that is surface mounted for use in notebook computers.

[0015] Other arrangements can be used to attach the heat sink to the board, including a leaf spring or tab, a screw spring combination, an external heat sink like clip with a spring between the heat sink and that board. 

What is claimed is:
 1. Apparatus comprising a heat dissipating element, a support holding the heat dissipating element adjacent to a heat generating structure, and a thermal interface material in contact with the heat dissipating material and the heat generating structure, the support being configured to enable the heat dissipating element to be held selectively in an initial position closer to the heat generating structure and in a subsequent position farther from the heat generating structure and in which the thermal interface material spans the distance, and is not held under compression, between the heat dissipating element and the heat generating structure.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the heat dissipating element comprises a metal heat sink.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the support comprises a resilient element that tends to force the heat dissipating element away from the heat generating structure and a retainer that holds the heat dissipating element in the subsequent position.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3 in which the retainer comprises a pin held by a gripping mechanism and the resilient element comprises a coiled spring surrounding the pin.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the heat generating structure comprises a heat generating component and a board on which the component is mounted.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5 in which the heat generating component comprises a microprocessor.
 7. The apparatus of claim 5 in which the support holds the heat dissipating element on the board.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the thermal interface material comprises a soft material.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the thermal material comprises a high-conductivity thermal grease or gel.
 10. Apparatus comprising a metal heat sink, a support holding the heat sink adjacent to a board on which a heat-generating microprocessor is mounted, and a soft, heat conducting thermal grease or gel between and in contact with the heat sink and the microprocessor, the support being configured to enable the heat sink to be held selectively in an initial position closer to the microprocessor and in a subsequent position farther from the microprocessor and in which the thermal interface material spans the distance, and is not held under compression, between the heat sink and the microprocessor, the support having a spring element that tends to force the heat sink away from the microprocessor and a pin held by a gripping mechanism on the board that holds the heat sink in the subsequent position.
 11. A method comprising applying a thermal interface material to a heat dissipating element or a heat generating structure, attaching the heat dissipating element to the heat generating structure in an initial position with the thermal interface material between them, separating the heat dissipating element and heat generating structure to a second position, and allowing the thermal interface material to span the distance between the heat dissipating element and the heat generating structure.
 12. The method of claim 11 in which compression is applied between the heat dissipating element and the heat generating structure to reach the initial position, and in the second position, no compression is applied between the heat dissipating element and the heat generating structure to reach the initial position.
 13. The method of claim 11 in which, in the second position, the heat dissipating element and the heat generating structure are separated by a predefined distance.
 14. The apparatus of claim 11 in which the thermal interface material comprises a high-conductivity thermal grease or gel.
 15. A computer circuit board comprising a printed circuit board, a microprocessor mounted on the board, a heat dissipating element, a support holding the heat dissipating element adjacent to the microprocessor, and a thermal interface material in contact with the heat dissipating material and the microprocessor, the support being configured to enable the microprocessor to be held selectively in an initial position closer to the component and in a subsequent position farther from the component and in which the thermal interface material spans the distance, and is not held under compression, between the heat dissipating element and the microprocessor. 